Mailbag lock



y 1946- J. TAYLJR I 2 ,399,952

MAIL BAG LOCK Filed July 26, 1944 y B @Mm Inventor Patented May 7, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in mail bag locks, and has or its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character which may be expeditiously closed and opened thereby accelerating the handling of outgoing and incoming mail.

Another very important object of the invention i to provide a lock of the aforementioned character which is permanently secured on the pouch, thereby preventing loss and eliminating waste of time and effort in searching for the lock.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a mail bag lock which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eflicient and reliable in use, compact and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a View in front elevation, showing a device constructed in accordance with the present invention in locked position on a mail bag.

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of the lock in open position.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the device.

Figure 4 is a view in rear elevation of the hasp.

Figure 5 is a View in longitudinal section through the hasp.

Figure 6 is a view in transverse section through the strap, showing the hasp in end elevation with the staple engaged in the lock.

Figure '7 is a view in transverse section through the hasp.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a strap l of suitable flexible material. The strap is Dermanently secured at 2 to the upper position 3 of a mail bag 4, the end portions of said strap being free of said mail bag. Firmly secured on the strap l in spaced relation to one end thereof is a staple 5.

Hingedly connected at 6 to the other end of the strap l is a hasp l. The hasp I includes an elongated metallic plate 8 having formed therein a longitudinal slot 9 for the reception of the staple 5. Formed integrally with the longitudinal edges of the plate 8 are converging flanges Ill. The flanges I0 are formed to provide opposed channels II for the reception of a. lock II. It

will be observed that the loci; i2 is mounted as transversely of the plate 8. Rivets l3 secure the lock 12 inthe channels I I. 7

It is thought that the manner in which the lock is used will be readily apparent from a con sideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the upper or mouth portion 3 of the bag 4 is gathered and closed in the usual manner and the end portion of the strap l on which the staple 5 is mounted is held against said bag with one hand. With the other hand the hasp I is pulled tightly around the bag and slipped on the staple 5, the slot 9 accommodating said staple as hereinbefore stated. When the hasp I is thus forced on the staple 5, said staple enters the lock l2 which closes thereon. Of course, to open the device, it is only necessary to unlock the lock l2 and remove the hasp 1 from the staple 5. When unlocked, the complete assembly remains on the mail bag.

It is believed that the many advantages of a mail bag lock constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction may b resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A mail bag lock comprising a strap permanently secured to the throat of a collapsible bag at an intermediate point of the strap, the end portions of said strap being free of the bag, a staple riveted on one end portion of the strap, a plate hingedly connected to the other end portion of said strap, said plate having a slot therein for the reception of the staple, opposed converging fianges on the plate, each flange carrying an opposed channel member, and a key-operated lock secured between said flanges in said channel members and provided with a bite en ageable with the staple for anchoring said staple to the plate when the bag is closed.

2. A mail bag lock comprising a strap permanently secured to the throat of a collapsible bag, a staple riveted on one end portion of said strap, a hasp plate hinged on the other end portion of the strap, said hasp plate having a slot therein for the reception of the staple, opposing converging flanges on the longitudinal edges of the plate, said flanges each carrying an opposed channel member, and a lock secured between said channel members transversely to said plate and provided with a bite engageable with the staple for anchoring said staple in the plate when the lock is shut.

JAMES TAYLOR. 

